Swedish Flag

Sweden was under the rule of Denmark until 1523, when King Gustav Vasa
began to work toward liberating Sweden so that it could be an
independent state.

Today's flag, which was adopted in 1906, is an off-center yellow cross
on a background of blue. The off-center cross is often called the
"Scandinavian cross," and is taken from the flag of Denmark.

Although the current flag wasn't instituted until just more than 100 years
ago, it has been used in some form or another for about four centuries
previously.
It is thought that the flag's blue and yellow colors come from the
national coat of arms, which originated in the 14th century. This
coat of arms features three gold crowns on a blue field.

Today, Sweden's national flag day is celebrated on June 6, the same day
that King Gustav Vasa, who was so integral to the country's independence,
was elected in 1523.

Sweden Country Profile

Sweden is located to the east of Norway on the Scandinavian peninsula,
and is home to 8.8 million people. Its capital is Stockholm, and
its language is Swedish.

Sweden was under the rule of Denmark until 1523, when King Gustav Vasa
began to work toward liberating Sweden so that it could be an independent
state. Sweden, which joined the UN in 1946 and the EU in 1995,
remained largely neutral in world conflicts until September 11, when
attacks on the United States by terrorist contributed to the Swedes
amending their stance to some degree.

Sweden's landscape is mostly forested, and is dotted with numerous
lakes. The climate is mostly continental, and because of the
proximity of the Baltic Sea, the east cost tends to be colder than the
western regions of the country. Summers are mild throughout the
summer season.

Sweden prides itself on an egalitarian society, in which the state
provides an atmosphere that allows everyone to achieve economic dependence
through work. In addition, Sweden also has one of the most complex
welfare systems in the world. However, the large cost of this system
caused major budget deficits in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Sweden's resources include minerals such as iron, copper, iron, and
silver. However, other industrial sectors such as the automobile
and technology industries make up a large part of the country's
economy. Women make up a large part of the workforce — nearly
half. In addition, the Swedish cabinet has one of the highest
numbers of women in its cabinet of all European countries. While
the nuclear family remains the focus of Sweden's society, marriage is on
the decline while cohabitation is on the rise. Families in Sweden
tend to be smaller than they are in other European countries, with
families rarely having more than two children.

Sweden is a popular tourist destination, and welcomes more than seven
million visitors per year. Natural attractions include the
mountains of the "midnight sun," the beaches that are located on the
southern coast, and the vast and deserted countryside. The city of
Stockholm is also a common destination. Gamla Stan, one of the
city's most visited areas, is renowned for its stunning architecture
and cobblestone streets, while those who enjoy museums can visit the
Djurgarden area of the city. There are enough restaurants and
eclectic shops to keep just about any visitor busy.